My opinion is the foundation is the philosophy of the team (players, coaches, management) and everyone must be on the same page. This year has been very successful in changing the minds of what people who matter (i.e. other NBA coaches and players) think of when they hear Toronto Raptors. Toronto is no longer a joke and if you don't bring your game, they are going to beat you.

Successful teams (i.e. championship and deep playoff runs) are built on more than talented players. They are important, very important, but they are not the only important ingredient in the recipe.

You just mentioned all of the players and declared some of them as "pillars".

Succesful championship teams are built on talented players with championship intangibles.

Maybe, but if they are saying that they are going to get experience, which most fans that have supported the rebuidling process have rejected as a short-term fix, why would I assume his comments were not exactly as he said them.

To me, the fact that they said the emphsasis is to go get experienced players already indicates to me that they feel that they are going to try and win now, instead of taking a long-term plan like OKC did. Draft picks, and young players is building. Acquiring veterans for the purpose of making the playoffs is not.

Should we assume that "experience" is synonymous with "aging veterans"? For example, Rudy Gay has experience, but he's got plenty of basketball life left in his tank. It's a win-now move that doesn't sacrifice the future.

You need pillars so you can reach your goal, otherwise you hit a glass ceiling. You also need a solid foundation, or else the structure won't be solid and you'll hit a wall. So if you have the pillars but no foundation, your attendance will go through the floor and criticism will go through the roof. But if you get the foundation without the pillars, you'll be knocking on the door of the playoffs, but ultimately on the outside looking in through a dirty window.

And if you have no foundation AND no pillars...well, then you end up in the basement. Like Charlotte.

I think there will be at least a half dozen new players and maybe 3 or 4 in a nine-man rotation; there will be Valanciunas, a new starting 3; a back up 2 and perhaps a backup PG

I think this just may be the case. BC is probably itching to pull the trigger on some big changes. I think Kleiza (amnesty?) - in spite of the J-V connection - and Amir are likely to go (glut at 4 spot) and maybe Bayliss (trade?) too!

Other changes to bench players like Alabi and one of Magloire or Aaron Gray. Forbes and Anderson will get a shot but it remains to be seen if they're keepers. Ben Uzoh is probably moving on.

I think there will be at least a half dozen new players and maybe 3 or 4 in a nine-man rotation; there will be Valanciunas, a new starting 3; a back up 2 and perhaps a backup PG

I think this just may be the case. BC is probably itching to pull the trigger on some big changes. I think Kleiza (amnesty?) - in spite of the J-V connection - and Amir are likely to go (glut at 4 spot) and maybe Bayliss (trade?) too!

Other changes to bench players like Alabi and one of Magloire or Aaron Gray. Forbes and Anderson will get a shot but it remains to be seen if they're keepers. Ben Uzoh is probably moving on.

There could be a lot of change coming, Smith may be right!

I think he is more than itching. He said in the press conference he is rearing to go.

My opinion is the foundation is the philosophy of the team (players, coaches, management) and everyone must be on the same page. This year has been very successful in changing the minds of what people who matter (i.e. other NBA coaches and players) think of when they hear Toronto Raptors. Toronto is no longer a joke and if you don't bring your game, they are going to beat you.

Successful teams (i.e. championship and deep playoff runs) are built on more than talented players. They are important, very important, but they are not the only important ingredient in the recipe.

You just mentioned all of the players and declared some of them as "pillars".

Succesful championship teams are built on talented players with championship intangibles.

You could say that for every team than. Every team has talented players with intangibles to take them far. Look at Sacramento for example. Demarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans, these guys are very, VERY talented players and have potential to separate from solid NBA pros to all-stars. Hell they are already by far solid NBA pros. They don't have the culture/coaching staff, they don't have the role pieces, and they're struggling to stay in Sacramento.

Toronto has a very well developed/built foundation. Of pillars/players that can lead high positions on the team. JV, DD, AB. Players that can play smaller roles/veteran experience such as Kleiza, Calderon, Ed, Amir, James Johnson, Gray, Magloire. A very good coaching staff who has proved the change towards a defensive culture led by head coach Dwane Casey.

All they need now, is to add more role players/talent TO the foundation.

i think the raptors didn't want to make the play offs this year so that being said its safe to say the the plan to get to the playoffs is about right

I can't agree with that statement, Casey is going to compete no matter what!

Although Raptors were minus a number of guys -mostly for legitimate reasons - what the Nets did in that last game was absolutely scandalous. Still Casey will try to win with or without bona fide NBA'ers.

Gotta respect the man for that! As someone pointed out elsewhere the only sure way Raptors could tank would be to banish DC from the bench.